This is the mission of a group of fitness instructors who have been called 'Special Angels' due to their patience and devotion to the task. The group, who hails from the Southern Cape and is affiliated to the SA Seniors Fitness Association (SASFA), gathered last week at the Far Hills Hotel for a refresher course for fitness instructors run by Iona Henning from Johannesburg.
The SASFA course was attended by well-known Georgian Dolores van Tonder (72), who is the regional representative of the association.
This live wire keeps up-to-date with exercise techniques by attending workshops three times a year.
Dolores has 50 seniors who attend her classes that she holds at various retirement villages and retirement homes. Dolores is known for her sense of fun and for bringing good cheer everywhere she goes. She does not mind clowning around with a latex mask just to get the elderly laughing and feeling more optimistic. But often it is not easy to get people who have been inactive to participate in an exercise group. It would seem that women still outlive men, judging by the absence of men in the local classes.
The Southern Cape branch of the SASFA won the floating trophy this year for raising the most funds for the organisation that is not for profit. Any seniors who want to join Dolores's group can contact her on 076 296 0060.
Plettenberg Bay seniors can contact Linda Victor on 082 780 7912 (she presents classes at Formosa Garden Village); and Karin van Graan, from Mossel Bay, can be contacted on 082 894 7123 should any Mossel Bay seniors wish to join her classes.
Happy clappy. The Southern Cape branch of the SASFA gathered for a workshop for fitness instructors last week.
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